VOTE HELPS 30 TEACHERS KEEP JOBS

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

After winning voter approval for a tax increase, Arlington Heights Elementary School District 25 recalled the pink slips issued to 30 tenured teachers who were to be laid off.

The district announced March 7 that 63 teachers and 30 support staff members would be laid off at the end of the school year if the property tax initiative failed. Even with the tax increase, however, some of those workers may not be rehired, said Jim Montgomery, District 25 director of personnel and human resources.

''It`s my guess that the number of teachers recalled would be close to 60, about 57 or 58,'' Montgomery said. ''Our priority right now is hiring the teachers first to reduce class sizes, then we`ll worry about our support staff.''

Officials decided at Thursday`s school board meeting to rehire the 30 teachers. A decision on most of the rest of the staff is expected by the May 9 board meeting, Montgomery said.